This post has been updated.
A coalition of local labor unions is moving forward with a plan to get a citizens-led sales tax measure on the November 2026 ballot.
The proposed measure is a one-cent sales tax that would generate an estimated $400 million for infrastructure repairs, wildfire prevention, pipe repairs for clean water and more. The coalition driving the push includes Laborers Local Union 89, Carpenters Union Local 619, and Rebuild SoCal.
The labor unions have been polling residents about the proposed measure. While polling indicates San Diegans see a need for additional funding to services, results also indicate San Diegans lack trust in local government.
Sixty-two percent of San Diegans say the city is on the wrong track, according to polling results shared with Voice of San Diego.
Labor union leaders started polling three months ago. They shared some survey results from late August to early September, and October. On both occasions, they surveyed more than 700 people across the city of San Diego.
It’s unclear if San Diegans would support the tax.
Valentine Macedo, business manager and secretary treasurer of Laborers Local 89, said they are currently drafting ballot language with stakeholder input. He said they are moving forward with the measure and are filing paperwork to form the ballot measure committee this week.
The August to September survey showed 51 percent of San Diegans have an “unfavorable opinion” of the San Diego City Council. They also ranked wasteful spending, mismanagement, and lack of trust in San Diego City government as an “extremely serious problem” – that’s according to more than 60 percent of participants.
The cost of living was also top of mind. Eighty-eight percent of folks said it’s one of the biggest problems in San Diego.
The October survey results indicated a mixed bag. Sixty-two percent of participants say San Diego is on the wrong track, but more than 60 percent see a need for additional funding to provide services at the level residents want.
While the city is struggling for revenue sources, the polls indicate San Diegans are hurting too.
The potential tax measure comes as Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera also presented a tax on vacation rentals and second homes late last month. It could mean voters see three measures – including a potential county measure – on the ballot next year. Both the county and city polls ask whether voters would consider both a county and city measure, just one, or neither.
But it’s too soon to tell where San Diegans will place their votes, as the city is still recovering from its defeat on a previous one-cent sales tax, Measure E.
The ballot measure was introduced by Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Raul Campillo in November 2024. It was estimated to generate $400 million annually for the general fund to “invest in neighborhood upgrades.”
This would have included fixing potholes, improving parks and libraries, and delivering general services to neighborhoods like fire and paramedic response.
But the response from voters showed a stark split, and low voter turnout spelled the end of Measure E. The measure failed to pass with more than 50.31 percent of voters voting no, and 49.69 percent voting yes. The measure’s failure meant the city had to continue to face insurmountable budget troubles.
The city’s current sales tax is 7.75 percent. Measure E would have bumped that up to 8.75 percent.
An analysis by inewsource showed supporters of Measure E were predominantly from southeastern neighborhoods in San Diego. Many of those communities were impacted by the January floods in 2024 and continue to struggle with declining infrastructure.
“Measure E fell short two years ago because it sent funds to the general fund instead of directly addressing community priorities,” Macedo said.
The potential citizens measure would fund police, paramedics and firefighters. Dollars would go toward the replacement of deteriorating pipes and sewers and invest in flood control infrastructure. Wildfire prevention would also be funded along with the repair of streets, roads and potholes.
The tax would maintain “city services” like keeping libraries and recreation centers open.
The measure would come with strict accountability requirements to ensure transparency and public oversight. On the other hand, Measure E went straight into the general fund with no specific guardrails. The proposed measure would include public disclosure of the dollars and independent yearly financial and performance audits.
“Our measure would dedicate 100% of funds to essential services and repairing vital infrastructure — backed by public disclosure, annual independent audits, a citizen oversight board, and Attorney General enforcement if funds are misused,” said Macedo in a statement to Voice.
“This initiative puts residents first, ensuring every dollar strengthens neighborhoods and protects the services San Diegans rely on.”
Ninety-two percent of participants in the August to September survey said the requirement of public disclosure on the funds’ spending is “extremely/very important.”
Nov. 3 correction: This post has been updated to correct that 49.69 percent of voters voted yes for Measure E.
The city has zero credibility when it comes to spending. They talk about “Fixing potholes, paving streets,” but after the tax is passed they repave the streets in rich neighborhoods that have a few cracks in the pavement, while streets in the poor neighborhoods are a rutted potholed ruin and have been for years.
There is far too much bait and switch coming out of the city for me and most people to trust them.
The new proposal for a city sales tax is not unlike the new trash fee: create a new source of funding for something that has historically been paid out of the general fund (in this case, emergency services and infrastructure repair) that would then liberate money in the general fund to be spent however they want (read pay raises, which is why labor is so invested in making it happen).
With a City Council that makes promises for pay raises that they cannot fund (21% over 3 years for trash services, contributing to the $45 per month trash fees rather than $29 per month propsed in the ballot measure), don’t expect any tax increase to be enough for the City to deliver on its promises. And don’t expect any new tax to repeal any of the other, onerous, money-making ventures the City had enacted, like increased parking meter fees and paid parking at Balboa Park.
Wish they’d poll me. I’m a retired construction union worker and I’d say no for the same reasons the last one failed. Too many taxes and fees. The city needs to cut staff.
The big tent? What a joke! Voters complain and lament these taxes yet those same voters will cast ballot for one of two Union supported D2 candidates. Yes, those same people! How does one square the idiocy of voters. Simply, they vote for the candidates who have the most dough and that means Union dough. Some candidates campaign with sheer grit and lose time and time again but remain true to the people.
“The tax would maintain “city services” like keeping libraries and recreation centers open.”
That is code for “hire more employees.” The unions make it sound like it’s all about the citizens, but it is ALWAYS about what is best for the union and its members.
People’s spending will decline and the $400 million in projected increased revenues will not be realized by the City. $400 million is not nearly enough to cover the “wish list” of promises the union proposes and most of it will be spent on compensation, not real services to the community. No.
When will the labor unions realize to be responsible to the community, in the projects they promote, and not just the avenue to secure membership jobs through the political process and the powers that rule? Their membership could get jobs at the expense of everyone paying more taxes.
The City has zero credibility when it comes to ballot measures, after the Trash Fee disaster. We’ve seen how the politicians do whatever they want, shrug their shoulders when their actions are protested, and then ask for even more money to fix the same things the money they just got was supposed to fix. This sales tax proposal is DOA.